“Glossary of Terms”
Islamic vocabulary carries meaning that rarely survives translation intact. This glossary collects the core Arabic terms used across Al-Hikmah House — with their root letters and working definitions — so nothing is assumed and nothing gets lost.
| Term | Arabic | Root | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hikmah | حِكْمَة | ح-ك-م | Wisdom; putting knowledge in its correct place, at the correct time. |
| Tazkiyah | تَزْكِيَة | ز-ك-و | Purification and growth of the soul. |
| Sabr | صَبْر | ص-ب-ر | Patience; steadfastness in the face of hardship or in restraining from sin. |
| Shukr | شُكْر | ش-ك-ر | Gratitude; acknowledging and thanking Allah for blessings. |
| Tawakkul | تَوَكُّل | و-ك-ل | Reliance on Allah, paired with taking the necessary means/action. |
| Niyyah | نِيَّة | ن-و-ي | Intention; the inward purpose behind an action. |
| Akhlaq | أَخْلَاق | خ-ل-ق | Character and manners; Islamic ethics in practice. |
| Barakah | بَرَكَة | ب-ر-ك | Divine blessing; a subtle increase Allah places in things or time. |
| Taqwa | تَقْوَى | و-ق-ي | God-consciousness; mindfulness that guards one from wrongdoing. |
| Ihsan | إِحْسَان | ح-س-ن | Excellence; worshipping Allah as though you see Him. |
| Fiqh | فِقْه | ف-ق-ه | Islamic jurisprudence; the human understanding of Sharia rulings. |
| Tafsir | تَفْسِير | ف-س-ر | Quranic exegesis; scholarly explanation of the Quran's meaning. |
| Sunnah | سُنَّة | س-ن-ن | The practice and example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. |
| Seerah | سِيرَة | س-ي-ر | The biography and life history of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. |
| Ummah | أُمَّة | أ-م-م | The global community of Muslims. |
| Dua | دُعَاء | د-ع-و | Supplication; calling upon Allah in prayer. |
| Qalb | قَلْب | ق-ل-ب | The heart; in Islamic tradition, the spiritual center of belief and intention. |
| Rizq | رِزْق | ر-ز-ق | Provision; sustenance decreed and provided by Allah. |
| Adab | أَدَب | أ-د-ب | Refined manners and etiquette rooted in Islamic character. |